[Marxism] Two more articles on crisis in Bolivia

["Fred Fuentes" <fred.fuentes@xxxxxxxxx>]

Democracy is the people

Antonio Peredo Leigue, January 15

The tense days that took place last week constitute an invaluable
experience: the exercising of power belongs to the people; the
authorities should not forget that they are the chief executives. The
deaths are overwhelming, the more than one hundred injured hurt: they
are the results of this violence and nothing can undo that damage. But
in the centre of this violence is the struggle to define the real
meaning of democracy.

Once again, Cochabamba was the scene of confrontation: class against
class, centre against periphery, city against countryside. All the
elements of this contradiction took place and demonstrated that, no
matter what path is taken in solving misery and backwardness, we will
have to confront the interests of privileged groups and, sooner rather
than later, it will be resolved on the streets..... rest at
http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2007/01/democracy-is-people-antonio-peredo.html

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Crisis in Cochabamba Continues

Pablo Stefanoni, Cochabamba, January 17

A mass popular open town meeting yesterday decided to not recognize
the governor of Cochabamba, Manfred Reyes Villa, who went to Santa
Cruz de la Sierra to seek refuge after days of clashes, which
resulting in 2 deaths. They were unable to find a legal mechanism to
sack him and the attempts to impose a new governor clashed with the
resistance of Evo Morales, who is promoting a recall referendum in
order to create a legal channel to resolve these types of conflicts.
Last night, whilst it was being announced that Reyes Villa would be
returning to Cochabamba, the vice minister of coordination with the
social movements, Alfredo Rada, was saying that the MAS government
would not recognize any de facto popular government.... rest at
http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2007/01/crisis-in-cochabamba-continues-pablo.html

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Resolution from the Cochabamba open town meeting, January 16

The mandate coming from the 2nd open town meeting of the social movements is:

*Faced with the abandonment by Manfred Reyes Villa of his functions as
prefect, the 16 provincial centrals, the Six Federations of the
Tropics, the Departmental Workers Central and all the social
organization, give the departmental council the mandate to continue
meeting to the benefit of the department of Cochabamba, whilst the
social organizations maintain themselves in a state of emergency.

* The social movements back the Departmental Council in its overseeing
of the prefecture management and ask that audits be carried out via
the General Ombudsman of the Republic, with the aim of establishing
penal and civil responsibilities and that the Public Ministry act
immediately to punish these crimes.

* The Public Ministry should investigate the massacre of January 11 by
Manfred Reyes Villa and his bullies headed by Oscar Zurita, who also
brought paid criminals in from Santa Cruz.

*Royalties should be reverted directly in a proportion of 40% to the
municipalities and 30% to the prefectures.

* The corporations should be subordinated to the prefecture structure
and their property taken over by the social organizations.

* The social organization of the 16 provinces and 45 municipalities
will not allow the return of Manfred to Cochabamba.

* The prefect should resign for the following reasons: for confronting
and dividing Cochabamban brothers, blackmailed with the resources that
cost the organizations blood and mourning; for supporting the position
of independence of Santa Cruz which would mean dividing and
confronting Bolivians; and for his anti-democratic actions in not
complying with the result of the July 2006 referendum.

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